House Republican Caucus proposes laying off 1,000 across university system
ANNAPOLIS – Facing proposals from Republican state delegates that would dramatically slash the university’s state-supported budget, university President Dan Mote defended state funding for higher education yesterday.
The House Republican Caucus’ proposal, unveiled last week, would result in the layoffs of more than 1,000 university system employees, return university funding to 2007 levels, cut travel budgets in half and eliminate free tuition for university employees.
At a hearing before the General Assembly’s House Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over higher education, Mote countered their arguments with a version of the same pitch he has made to lawmakers for years: The university is underfunded compared to its peer institutions, and every dollar invested in it creates a huge return for the state’s economy.
In a statehouse dominated by Democrats, the Republican proposals, though unlikely to go very far, may signal some dissatisfaction with the university’s expanding number of employees during the state’s budget crunch, which has lasted most of the decade.
If approved, university system lobbyist P.J. Hogan said the recommendations would have far-reaching ramifications.
“More than likely the Board of Regents would have to consider significant tuition increases, would have to consider curtailing certain programs,” he said. “It would impact everything from causing an increase in class size to a decline in faculty.”
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3 comments:
I agree with cutting their travel budget. That is an expense that is severly abused by all. Why is the in-state tuition not given strictly to in-state students in the cuts? A student cannot be considered in-state unless a resident for three (3) years minimum, that is what a lot of other states go by. You have out-of state and out-of country students, even ones holding Green Cards, getting the reduced tuition at Maryland Tax Payers expense.
The MD University system has become a haven for do-nothing staffers, many of whose positions were created so that their spouses (professors) could be lured to the system. UMBC is a prime example.
It's too bad that these won't be rooted out. Instead, they'll ditch a bunch of junior people and programs.
go fer it.Get her done.
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